1.4 Blog and Future Release Schedule

Originally Posted by SWTOR

09.26.2012Welcome to Game Update 1.4: Terror from Beyond

Our fourth major Game Update 1.4: Terror From Beyond goes live today. The center piece is a new Operation that shares the name of the update. This new Op is our most ambitious and difficult to date. The visuals are amazing, the battles are uniquely challenging and the final boss is the most impressive we’ve ever released.

In addition to a new Op we’ve introduced many smaller changes. The shadow system has gone through an overhaul that not only makes the game look better, but also makes the shadow system run better on many machine specs. Changes have been made to class balance, focused mainly on crowd control and the Resolve system. A lot of bug fixes as well.

This Game Update is also the start of a new release cadence. Our strategy so far has been to release big updates every few months. But this leaves long periods of time where you, our fans, don’t have anything new. So we’re moving to a model where we release Game Updates on a much more regular cadence. Our initial aim is for something as close to every six weeks as we can get. I’d promise an exact schedule, but in a live game we need some flexibility as the stability of the service trumps the release of an update on a particular date.

This year has been exciting so far with three Game Updates. But before the end of the year, it’s our intention to have released another three Game Updates, starting with Terror From Beyond. This is in addition to moving to Free to Play. But I can say in all honesty, that our plans for 2013 are even bigger. Our team’s experience, improving tools and better production processes are allowing us to move faster in development than we ever have before. More exciting news to come!

Be sure to check out everything that’s new in Game Update 1.4 with the News Articles and Community Blog Posts that we’ve published about it so far:

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Ohlen was all fine before SWTOR was release, his interviews were nice and informative and kinda believable. Now 9 months after, whenever he gives an interview it seems like he's lying and he knows it. He's got kinda sweat on his forehand and everyting, the way he is explaining/ announcing stuff sounds like there is someone really heavy breathing down his neck and watching his every step.

I would prefer that they just release something as soon as it's finished instead of waiting for [insert time period]. They did it with the large patches, it wasn't working and now... 6 weeks is still a long time. Just deploy whatever is ready and inform your customers what you are working on next.

6 weeks sounds fine. Believe it when it actually happends. Doubt many has forgot that they promised to do it monthly before and we all know how that went. Very little actually materialized. Could be that they just postponed some already ready content for free to play.

I for one am happy to hear something from Olen again, I thought he was gone, too.

The new warzone in october would be nice, but if they can follow their 6 weeks aim, it'll probably be november.

October was the estimation for the next content update being on the PTS

And I don't dislike Ohlen, he has a history of doing really great work on games. My issues are more of an interpersonal type (the way he seems to interact with other people) and the way he comes off in videos.

October was the estimation for the next content update being on the PTS

And I don't dislike Ohlen, he has a history of doing really great work on games. My issues are more of an interpersonal type (the way he seems to interact with other people) and the way he comes off in videos.

My issue with Ohlen would be the way he put "other MMOs" on blast for their boss encounters and then did the exact same thing. He said Many vs. 1 wasn't heroic, remember? It's just another incident of saying one thing and doing another.

I would prefer that they just release something as soon as it's finished instead of waiting for [insert time period]. They did it with the large patches, it wasn't working and now... 6 weeks is still a long time. Just deploy whatever is ready and inform your customers what you are working on next.

Sure but what happens when 5 things finish at once, and then we get them all at once and no more updates for 5 months?

Sure but what happens when 5 things finish at once, and then we get them all at once and no more updates for 5 months?

To be honest, is it any different than the release schedule they are currently working with? As it is, you aren't going to get a new Op for, let's say, a minimum of 3 months. I would say it's probably more like 4-5 months. Same things goes for a WZ or a FP. Especially if they're doing things the way they made it seem, meaning a new FP, Op, or WZ every 6 weeks?

What you're working on is a mentality thing. It's a brain manipulation technique. "We're going to update every 6 weeks". However, the nature of the update (i.e. FP or WZ) is only going to be updated every 4-5 months. Do you see what I'm saying?

To be honest, is it any different than the release schedule they are currently working with? As it is, you aren't going to get a new Op for, let's say, a minimum of 3 months. I would say it's probably more like 4-5 months. Same things goes for a WZ or a FP. Especially if they're doing things the way they made it seem, meaning a new FP, Op, or WZ every 6 weeks?

What you're working on is a mentality thing. It's a brain manipulation technique. "We're going to update every 6 weeks". However, the nature of the update (i.e. FP or WZ) is only going to be updated every 4-5 months. Do you see what I'm saying?

If it's just a WZ, OP, Event or similar in every patch without any additional fluff or side content I'd say it's worse rate even.

My issue with Ohlen would be the way he put "other MMOs" on blast for their boss encounters and then did the exact same thing. He said Many vs. 1 wasn't heroic, remember? It's just another incident of saying one thing and doing another.

If every fight was just lots of adds it would be boring. Having fights which are sometimes many vs 1, or many vs many or individual responsibility make it more entertaining. If anything I'd say that the levelling in SWTOR has you fighting larger packs and is more heroic than fighting one mob like you do in most other mmos, and usually that one mob is 2-3 shot and doesn't get in range of most ranged casters to do any damage.

If every fight was just lots of adds it would be boring. Having fights which are sometimes many vs 1, or many vs many or individual responsibility make it more entertaining. If anything I'd say that the levelling in SWTOR has you fighting larger packs and is more heroic than fighting one mob like you do in most other mmos, and usually that one mob is 2-3 shot and doesn't get in range of most ranged casters to do any damage.

They're packs of 3-4 mobs. You get a companion. The ratio bucks down to 1.5-2 mobs per. Not exactly "heroic". They don't necessarily have to use that approach, but that approach only exists for, what, 1 fight (Infernal Council)? My point isn't about the mechanic. My point is that he actually called out other MMOs for doing the EXACT same thing they wound up doing.